Things falling in line for 49ers’ front five

The lone new face on the 49ers' offensive line, right guard Alex Boone (right), has helped pick up a unit which have paved the way for the NFL's third-ranked rushing attack. (AP)

Fifty-three weeks ago, the 49ers had allowed 11 sacks in their first three games, were averaging 2.5 yards a carry and the spotty play of their offensive line was inspiring a barrage of what’s-wrong-with-these-guys questions.

Finally, as he leaned against a wall in a hallway at the Holiday Inn in Boardman, Ohio, 49ers left tackle Joe Staley decided he’d heard enough.

“Contrary to everyone’s belief, we don’t suck,” Staley snapped. “We’re good players and we play well.”

A year later, much has changed. Now, the statistics actually support Staley’s quote.

After four games, the 49ers rank third in the NFL in rushing yards per game (167.0), second in yards per attempt (5.4) and their front five has been called for just two penalties – a holding call on Staley in Week 1 and an unnecessary-roughness penalty on right tackle Anthony Davis last week.

They aren’t quite a finished product – the 49ers’ 12 sacks allowed is tied for the sixth-most in the NFL – but Staley now laughs about his we-don’t-suck quote.

Yes, times – and the line – have changed.

“Big, strong and physical,” Bills coach Chan Gailey said of the line in advance of Buffalo’s visit to Candlestick Park on Sunday. “I mean, they’re playing extremely well. They are a strong bunch. They’re probably overall the best group we’ve played this year.”

The 49ers have invested in their front five – Staley, Davis and left guard Mike Iupati were top-28 overall picks – and they are now seeing healthy returns on those investments. Of course, those same pieces, along with center Jonathan Goodwin, were in place last year when the 49ers averaged 93.3 rushing yards in their first four games. What’s the difference? Staley cited a second year in San Francisco’s system for much of the improvement.

“I think last year we were only in week four of learning the offense,” Staley said. “We had a new coaching staff. That really affects the offensive line. We all know the plays, but we were still trying to figure each other out and try to figure out the offense. Now we’re so much further along.”

It also helps that the lone new addition to the line, right guard Alex Boone, has been a quick study. A former tackle who had never played guard before this season, Boone has allowed no sacks, one quarterback hit and two hurries, according to Pro Football Focus, which gives Boone the highest grade of the 49ers’ linemen. Last year’s right guards, Chilo Rachal and Adam Snyder, allowed four sacks, six hits and 28 hurries.

On Sunday, Boone and his linemates will face Buffalo’s front four, which features two-time Pro Bowlers in defensive end Mario Williams and defensive tackle Kyle Williams along with an emerging star in tackle Marcell Dareus, the No. 3 pick in last year’s draft. Still, after four games, Bills’ front four is part of a defense that ranks 28th in rushing yards allowed and 29th in points allowed.

In other words, they’re hoping to prove they’re better than the stats indicate.

Their counterparts across the line Sunday have been there before.

“I think that’s going to be the big matchup of the day, their D-line vs. our O-line,” Boone said. “It’s one of those things that we know going in it’s going to be a full-day sucker.”